03/27/2024 — Crystal Tyndall

Hiking Echo Canyon Trail

Trip report of hiking Echo Canyon Trail this spring in Colorado National Monument.

Always a great hike, this one had a few unexpected wildlife sightings.

Length: 1.5 mi, one-way

Saturday, 3/23/2024

Knowing a week of 60-degree weather was going to turn cold and wet, I seized the opportunity of a Saturday afternoon hike along a favorite trail in Colorado National Monument. Joined by a hiking buddy, we both looked forward to the fresh air, movement, and canyon views found while hiking Echo Canyon Trail.

Trail Information

Access to the trail is at the Devils Kitchen Trailhead. Parking is available in the first parking lot on your left as you drive along Rim Rock Drive or in the larger parking lot, on your right, at the Devils Kitchen Picnic Area. Both lots are well signed and easy to enter for cars, trucks, and vans. It would be tight for RVs and exceptionally difficult if towing a camper.

Once on the trail, you’ll come to a sign indicating the various trails in the area. Echo Canyon Trail requires you to veer left at this initial trail split. You’ll hike along the trail and through a short sandy wash, with Cottonwood trees to your right. The trail changes from dirt to rock and is well marked by cairns. There is a short uphill hike to reach the next trail sign. It is marked with Old Gordon Trail, continuing upwards, and Echo Canyon Trail following a mellow descent leading into the canyon.

Trail Conditions

The trail conditions were great, it was dry and very easy to follow the trail. It is a well-worn trail that sees less visitors compared to other hikes in the area. You could see the spring green pushing its way through the vegetation. There was not a lot of water at the pool at the end of the canyon and the water along the trail was turbid due to sediment.

Wildlife on the Trail

I have recently been rating my hikes by using this metric; if I saw more wildlife than people then it was a great hike. This hike was no exception, we saw a total of 3 Desert Bighorn Sheep at two different locations along the trail. A few Ravens chattering back and forth to each other and a Spotted Towhee.

It is so rewarding to hike with binoculars in my backpack and a few wildlife guides to help with in-the-field identification. Neither of us had seen a Spotted Towhee before and we used our bird guide to confirm, calling out its red eyes.

Desert Bighorn Sheep resting on a ledge. Image by Evan Curtis.

Hike Highlights

The highlights of hiking Echo Canyon Trail were the wildlife viewing opportunities and the sense of revisiting an old friend. Seeing the new growth of spring starting to push up into the landscape reminded me to enjoy the reason of renewal and to get excited about wildflowers coming soon.

Access is always a highlight. I live near downtown Grand Junction and am truly only a 15min drive to the trailhead. Sometimes finding a parking spot can be an issue. However, if your plans are flexible, it can be easy to find a spot in the early afternoon. If you like to sleep in (like me), this is a bonus.

Hiking Recommendations

As always it is important to follow the rules and regulations of the monument.

Leave things as you find them and pack out all trash.
Help keep wildlife wild. Do not feed or approach animals.
Pets are not allowed on trails.
Bicycles are not allowed on trails.

Be safety aware. This is an arid desert environment. Cell service is not completely reliable in all areas of the monument. There are no water sources on trails and hikers must carry all the water they need with them. One gallon per person per day is the recommended minimum.

Colorado National Monument National Park Service Website has trail maps and additional resources for planning a hike within the monument’s trail system.

Echo Canyon Trail Reflections

This is my favorite hike for a reason. It offers much solitude and has great canyon views and often some wildlife viewing as well. Pack your binoculars or a telephoto lens for your camera. While it may add weight to your backpack, it is certainly worth it. I find myself revisiting this canyon at least twice a year, once in spring and fall. Fall visits offer views of the changing colors of the Cottonwood leaves to a bright yellow, it is a spectacular sight.

See you on the trail!